Toward Programmable Infrastructure for Organic and Flexible 6G Networks

IEEE Access, vol. 14, pp. 44974–44991

Abstract

The next generation of wireless mobile networks will be driven by software and infrastructure virtualization. At the same time, the underlying hardware will become more diverse. Edge, intermediate and central network nodes will allow distributed deployments of never seen before scale. Non-terrestrial networks, nomadic networks and networks in networks promise more dynamicity, changing their topologies over time in predictable and unpredictable ways. To handle the complexity and dynamicity, a highly flexible and adaptable network is required. The key enablers of this complex digital communication system will be programmable infrastructures. From programmable access and flexible backhauls to zero-touch, adaptable and resilient control planes, we conducted research into advanced programmability at different layers of the network, within the Open6GHub project. In this article, we present innovative solutions for advanced programmable network infrastructure and show why they are essential for our vision of the programmable infrastructure of future wireless mobile networks.

Authors 21

1. Fabian Eichhorn

   Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems, Berlin, Germany

2. Roland Bless

   Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany

3. Paul Seehofer

   Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany

4. Michael Gundall

   German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence

   Affiliation as printed

   German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence GmbH, Kaiserslautern, Germany

5. Daniel Lindenschmitt

   Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität Kaiserslautern-Landau

   Affiliation as printed

   RPTU Kaiserslautern–Landau, Kaiserslautern, Germany

6. Bastian Bloessl

   Technische Universität Darmstadt

   Affiliation as printed

   Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany

7. David Volz

   Technische Universität Darmstadt

   Affiliation as printed

   Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany

8. Navid Keshtiarast Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

9. Hendrik Borchert

   Leibniz Institute for High Performance Microelectronics

   Affiliation as printed

   Leibniz-Institut für innovative Mikroelektronik (IHP), Frankfurt (Oder), Germany

10. Markus Petri

    Leibniz Institute for High Performance Microelectronics

    Affiliation as printed

    Leibniz-Institut für innovative Mikroelektronik (IHP), Frankfurt (Oder), Germany

11. Elena-Ramona Modroiu

    Technische Universität Berlin

    Affiliation as printed

    Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany

12. Joel John

    Technische Universität Berlin

    Affiliation as printed

    Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany

13. Hossein Mohammadalizadeh

    Hasso Plattner Institute · University of Potsdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI), Faculty of Digital Engineering, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany

14. Theo Radig

    Hasso Plattner Institute · University of Potsdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI), Faculty of Digital Engineering, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany

15. Leonard Paeleke

    Hasso Plattner Institute · University of Potsdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI), Faculty of Digital Engineering, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany

16. Heiner Ackermann

    Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics

    Affiliation as printed

    Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics, Kaiserslautern, Germany

17. Daniel Hauer

    Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics

    Affiliation as printed

    Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics, Kaiserslautern, Germany

18. Marius Corici

    Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems

    Affiliation as printed

    Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems, Berlin, Germany

19. Marina Petrova Aachen

    RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

20. Thomas Magedanz

    Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems

    Affiliation as printed

    Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems, Berlin, Germany

21. Hans Dieter Schotten

    German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence

    Affiliation as printed

    German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence GmbH, Kaiserslautern, Germany